Polite, hifi, jazzy solo pickups?

Tristan · #1 12-15-2011, 03:27 PM

I'm putting together a parts P bass for straight ahead rocking, and am now thinking about my next project, which will be a more polite hifi approach in a 4 string probably with a preamp.

What pickups should I use? I want a hifi polite bridge solo sound and also a good slap sound. Some kind of jazz or HH config I figure is the way to go...

I have a Godin with EMG PJ setup, and you'd expect the bridge J to be able to deliver a hifi style finger tone, but I find it much to midrangey for that. Otherwise I would have expected and EMG config as a good option.

Are "vintage" style jazz pups capable of this kind of tone?

Any recs? Ultrajazz? Some other hums? Opinions wanted!

4StringTheorist · #2 12-15-2011, 08:25 PM

The SGD Sidewinders might be up your alley. There's an SGD TalkBass thread with active participation from the guy who makes them.

darkstorm · #3 12-16-2011, 11:53 AM

Barts. Your wanting polite hifi sound made me think of them immediately. Good pups, but I'm just not into "polite" sound much myself, more into agressive sound. lol.

edwinhurwitz · #4 12-16-2011, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkstorm

Barts. Your wanting polite hifi sound made me think of them immediately. Good pups, but I'm just not into "polite" sound much myself, more into agressive sound. lol.

+1. I would definitely go with Barts for this kind of sound. I go back and forth between Barts and SD 1/4lb'ers on my Lakland JO5 for polite to aggressive. Both sound great.

SGD Lutherie · #5 12-16-2011, 12:32 PM

I just want to chime in since my name was mentioned. My pickups can do polite, but they can be aggressive as well. It all depends on how you are playing.

I feel that good pickups should be able to do both, otherwise you are being held back by your pickups!

My neos have the warmth of Barts with the clarity of EMGs. The Sidewinders sound like single coils, and are like beefed up Lane Poors, so they can go from Jazz to Ric type tones.

I like to get different tones from my basses, so I made my pickups versatile.

Tristan · #6 12-16-2011, 01:04 PM

Thanks for the replies... I'll look into these options and report back when i build (might be a while)

GYang · #7 12-17-2011, 09:13 AM

Do not overlook Wilde P-46, it is clean (hi-fi), smooth and polite in very, very special way. From creative PU designer and living legend Bill Lawrence who deserves much more accolades for his work.

SGD Lutherie · #8 12-17-2011, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GYang

From creative PU designer and living legend Bill Lawrence who deserves much more accolades for his work.

+1

Derek Kiernan · #9 12-17-2011, 02:26 PM

Are you staying with the P/J setup? Bill's J-45 is supposed to match excellently with the P-46.

Tristan · #10 12-17-2011, 08:38 PM

No this would be for a new build.

I do like Bill Lawrence guitar pups (L-500R and XL in an Ibanez RG I have \m/)

Derek Kiernan · #11 12-17-2011, 09:47 PM

Bill's J-45 and P-46 are probably more alike each other than similar to either jazz or precision pickups, although the J-45 neck has a bit less inductance. I have a J-45 set and love them. If you enjoy Bill's design approach with the L500s, there's a good chance you'll enjoy his bass pickups.